<h5-red>CLIENT<h5-red> GOVERNMENT OF INDIA I <h5-red>AREA<h5-red> 4,500 SQFT I STATUS PROPOSED I <h5-red>TEAM<h5-red> SIDHARTHA TALWAR I <h5-red>AWARD<h5-red> WINNING ENTRY AT THE NATIONAL ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN COMPETITION FOR THE NATIONAL POLICE MEMORIAL
A nationwide architectural competition was held by the Indian Government for the design of a memorial that would honour police personnel killed in the line of duty as well as <rt-red>serving police personnel, along the symbolic axis between the chosen site and Rashtrapati Bhawan, along Shanti Path.<rt-red>
<rt-red>The primary function was of the memorial itself, a central structure strongly evocative of memory and solemnity.<rt-red> The secondary function was for the informational and ceremonial aspects addressed by the museum and front lawn respectively. The museum was to display uniforms, arms and medals with an audio-visual presentation on the lives of the police personnel killed in action. The ceremonial space or front lawn was for daily flag hoisting and police day functions. The tertiary function was contemplative, met by protective tree rings set in gravel and the Parikrama.
The memorial was built along the concept of a cocoon with layers of protection, as symbolised by a pair of folded hands in respect. Hence, <rt-red>a circular space with the Ashoka Chakra on the floor in red, and a sandstone or GRC jaali work framing the space with names of the martyrs adorning it to create the ‘Wall of Remembrance’ was nestled inside a ring of trees.<rt-red> The Wall is responsive to the light around and allows names to be added without seeming incomplete at any point in time. A Lion Capital wall is another beautiful element of the memorial.
The additional layers of a ramp wrapping around the core, a grove of trees and a ceremonial space apart from the museum at <rt-red>the lower ground level add depth to the experience of the memorial and allow the site to be used for activities beyond just the iconic.<rt-red>
